Report Card: OSU 70, Texas Tech 53

RaiderPower.com senior writer Joe Yeager grades every Texas Tech position group on its performance in the 70-53 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock (Tex.).

Quarterback

Patrick Mahomes offered up his usual complement of special plays and timely scrambles, but those pluses must be measured against two interceptions (the second was basically meaningless), and two fumbles, one of which negated a likely fourth-down conversion in OSU territory in the third quarter. Mahomes’ turnovers almost certainly took points off the board for Tech, points which could have made the outcome of this game very different. Grade: B-

Running backs

Deandre Washington bulled his way for 95 rushing yards on 22 carries, and he earned every one of them because running lanes were few and far between on this afternoon. Washington was also a real tiger in pass protection. This is an area in which he has become a major asset to the offense. Justin Stockton got few rushing opportunities, but did catch a pair of touchdown passes. Grade: A-

Photo By Steven Chapman

Receivers

Jakeem Grant had a game to remember—possibly his greatest as a Red Raider. It’s a pity he was not rewarded with a victory. In addition to his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Grant caught 13 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. His 90-yard reception on Tech’s second drive of the game was surely one of the most spectacular plays in the history of Red Raider football. Ian Sadler, looking like his old self following an injury earlier in the season, caught eight passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Grant and Reginald Davis each had a drop, but otherwise this group was sure-handed. Grade: A

Offensive Line

For a group down two starters (Baylen Brown, Justin Murphy), and facing possibly the best pass-rushing defense in college football, Tech’s offensive line held up admirably. The Cowboys got two sacks, the first of which was a coverage sack and the second of which resulted in a Pat Mahomes fumble and OSU recovery. The line never got a great deal of traction in run blocking. Tony Morales was flagged for a false start, but the line was pretty clean for the most part. Grade: B+

Defensive Line

On most occasions, Tech rushed only three or four players, and given the relative dearth of blitzes, the line pressured Cowboy quarterbacks adequately, although no more. Demetrius Alston was an active presence inside, but he was the only one. Generally speaking, Tech’s defensive linemen were borderline invisible, particularly in the critical fourth quarter when the Cowboys rose up and the Red Raiders fell to pieces. Grade: D

Linebackers

Micah Awe, D'Vonta Hinton and Dakota Allen all made some decent plays—Allen’s interception was a real gem—but were largely non-factors when OSU passed to ball (43 attempts). At times, the lack of speed at this position was obvious. Grade: C-

Photo By Steven Chapman

Secondary

Keenon Ward Keenon Ward came in for Jah'Shawn Johnson who was ejected for targeting and played well for the most part, but bounced off Raymond Taylor who ripped through the heart of Tech’s defense for 28 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter. Oklahoma State burned Tech on several occasions for explosive plays. Ward, Tevin Madison and J.J. Gaines were all victimized. Nigel Bethel did break up three passes, and Thierry Nguema flashed occasionally. On the whole, though, coverage in the secondary was not good. Grade: D

Special Teams

There were highs and lows aplenty for the special teams. In the former category were Jakeem Grant’s kickoff return for a touchdown, a successful fake punt by Michael Barden who ran like a receiver if not perhaps a running back, and Clayton Hatfield’s 42-yard field goal. On the other hand, Barden was dumped on one abortive punt attempt, and the punt coverage team allowed Jalen McCleskey to romp 67 yards for a touchdown. Kickoff coverage, however, was quite good. Grade: B-